Lippa Tool

[kevin]

I was looking for a better way to catch and release trout. nets just seem to be a hassle most of the time. hand release can be difficult and can be hard on the fish. I looked at the $99 stainless tools but thought it was way to much for a release tool. now they make a composite tool that sells for $26 so on my last feathercraft order i bought one. this is so easy to use, they say to keep the fish in the water while unhooking and that was easy as i was wading taney and of the 15 -20 i caught today i didn't touch one. to get them in position to use the tool i would put the rod under one arm and loosely hook the line around my index finger about a foot away from the fish and then grab with the lippa tool. it dose not close all the way it leaves an 1/8" gap so it dose not pinch and as long as they stay in the water they don't fight when gripped. this was the best way i found to let them recover also, i just held on for a few seconds and they seem to not be as stressed as thrashing around in a net. they are very light and the jaws spring open slightly. i will keep a net for a very large trout but i would probably still use these to revive in the water. i also wont a pair for my boat ive had a few crankbaits get thrashed into my fingers latley i think they would work better on bass then trout any way with the bigger mouth and tougher jaw. Kevin

[rps]

After more than one hool in my digits in the last two years, Christmas brought me a boga. They work great. If you have found a less expensive model, even better!

[BlueWave]

If you catch and release Stripers the Boga is the way to go. Sounds like the Lippa is good for trout, but I went thru a bunch of cheap knock offs before I sucked it up and forked over the cash for a Boga. Put a float on it so I wont have a heart attack if I drop it in to 200' of water in Beaver.